In a letter to Fórsa National Secretary Angela Kirk, who negotiates for the Ryanair pilots, the airline's Chief People Officer Eddie Wilson describes the 24-hour stoppage as unnecessary, adding that there is no reasonable ground for Fórsa's threat to disrupt the travel plans of customers next Thursday.

He notes that yesterday - just before the result of the IALPA ballot for strike action - he sent Fórsa documentation relevant to their demands, including a seniority list, details of the airline's base transfer system, and a new annual leave system based on seniority.

He also invited Ms Kirk and the Pilots’ Committee to meet next Wednesday - the day before the scheduled strike.

He said management was surprised to receive the pilots' notice of a 24-hour strike, allegedly over base transfers and a seniority list.

Given that these had been received prior to Fórsa issuing the strike notice, Mr Wilson asks for an explanation as to why the union will not reply to invitations to meet to discuss them.

He said that having already agreed a 20% pilot pay rise this year, and having received proposals on base transfers and a seniority list, the union should call off the strike.

He also offered to bring forward a meeting between management and the pilots' union to Monday or Tuesday of next week.

A spokesperson for Fórsa said they were considering Mr Wilson's letter.

The Ryanair cabin crew dispute may be set to escalate as speculation mounts that unions will announce stoppages tomorrow in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Belgium.

It is understood that the approval of the Italian authorities is required before a formal announcement is made.

The timing, form or duration of any industrial action is unknown.

Earlier, cabin crew representatives published a charter of demands for better pay and conditions, including the abolition of agency employment, and the removal of sales commission as a basis for promotions.

The representatives from across Europe have spent the last two days compiling the charter under eight headings: economic conditions, safety and rostering, a fair and supportive work culture, agency employment, national contracts, sickness, sales and ground staff.

Among them is abolition of Ryanair's requirement that cabin crew members must have a bank account in Ireland, despite working outside the Republic.

They have warned that if their demands are not met, Ryanair risks a summer of industrial action.

The airline noted they already earn up to €40,000 a year, which is more than double the living wage.

It pointed to a five days on, three days off roster which exceeds minimum rest requirements, and the legal limitation on them flying for more than 18 hours a week or more than 900 hours per annum.

Management said that cabin crew receive free training, sick pay and an annual uniform allowance of €400, receive paid and unpaid leave as they wish, and are incentivised to sell on board flights with industry leading sales bonuses of 10%.

Ryanair added that it is already engaged in extensive negotiations with national cabin crew unions across Europe during which all of these, and other issues, are being negotiated.

It stated that it has already concluded agreements in the UK and Italy.

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